DRDO Fireman Exam Pattern, Eligibility, Important Dates

Tier-I is the common A&A computer test: 75 questions, 75 marks, 60 minutes, on quantitative aptitude, reasoning, general awareness and general English. There is no negative marking. Qualifying marks are 40% for UR, OBC and EWS and 35% for SC and ST.

Tier-II is the physical fitness and capability test, pass or fail:

Vision must be 6/6 at distance without glasses, with a full field of vision in each eye and no night or colour blindness. No bow legs, knock knees or flat feet. Candidates from hilly areas can get up to 2.5 cm off height or chest, and those over 40 get 10% off the performance standards.

• Class 10 (Secondary School Certificate) recognised by the Central or a State Government.
• Physically fit for strenuous duty, tested against the standards below.
• Age 18 to 27 on the crucial date. OBC (NCL) get 3 more years, SC and ST 5, and ex-servicemen and others relaxation under central rules.

Vacancies in 2022: SC 5, ST 2, OBC 19, EWS 3, UR 57, total 86, including 5 for ex-servicemen. Two PwBD posts were reserved, but only for specific conditions: one for hard-of-hearing candidates and one for acid attack survivors.

Postings were at 14 stations: Ahmednagar, Balasore, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jagdalpur, Jodhpur, Kochi, Nashik, Pune and Visakhapatnam.

Fire Engine Driver 'A' (post 1001) is the related driving post. It needs Class 10, a licence for two or three-wheelers and light and heavy vehicles, and knowledge of traffic rules, with the same age band. There were 18 posts in 2022 (OBC 3, EWS 2, UR 13), at 11 stations. Candidates take the Tier-I CBT, a driving test and the same physical test as Firemen, minus the weight carry. The June 2023 instructions for Fire Engine Driver list the standards.

About eight candidates per post are called from the Tier-I merit list to the physical test. Clearing it is mandatory but adds nothing to your score, so final ranking follows Tier-I. Shortlisted candidates take the physical test at their own risk and should bring their own sports shoes. Medicals and document checks happen at joining.

Level 2 of the 7th CPC pay matrix, ₹19,900–63,200, with DA, HRA and other central allowances. NPS applies.

Apply online through CEPTAM's link when the advertisement is out. Fee ₹100; women, SC, ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen pay none. Fireman and Fire Engine Driver are separate post codes and need separate applications.

The next Fireman recruitment is not yet scheduled.

The CEPTAM-10/A&A Fireman final result was linked on the CEPTAM-10/A&A page (archived, 2 October 2023). The next results will be on DRDO Vacancies.

• The 1,600 m in 7 minutes and the 2.7 m ditch jump are where most physical prep should go.
• Practise carrying a 63.5 kg load; 183 m in 96 seconds is hard without training.
• Get your eyes tested before applying. Distance vision must be 6/6 without aids.

• DRDO Vacancies page
• CEPTAM-10/A&A advertisement (archived PDF)
• Fireman final result listing, October 2023 (archived)
• Fire Engine Driver 'A' physical test instructions (archived PDF)
• CEPTAM-10/A&A FAQs (archived PDF)

What qualification does DRDO Fireman need?

Class 10 pass.

Can women apply?

Yes. The physical standards for women are lower, as in the table.

Is there a written exam?

Yes, a 75-mark CBT with no negative marking.

Can I wear glasses?

Not for the distance vision standard. It must be 6/6 without aids.

When is the next DRDO Fireman recruitment?

Not announced. The last was CEPTAM-10/A&A in 2022.